Henry Cavill, set to play Geralt in Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher, has expressed his excitement in diving deeper into the world of the character he will be embodying. When the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher announced that Cavill would be playing the beloved video game character last year, some fans were pretty skeptical given Cavill’s past roles.
The Witcher is Netflix’s answer to the television juggernaut that was Game of Thrones, and will be based on the book series of the same name by author Andrzej Sapkowski. Most fans recognize the name, however, from the video game series, which has had three installments created by developer CD Projekt Red. Netflix’s series will be the most recent addition to a large anthology of adaptions, as the books have already been brought to life many times over as films, other television series, comic books, tabletop role-playing games, card games, and board games in addition to the video games. 2019’s retelling of the story drops on Netflix December 20, 2019, and a second season of The Witcher has already been confirmed.
In a recent interview with Men’s Health, Cavill express he’s most excited about his “chance to find Geralt’s place in the world.” “It’s funny how much he’s actually like us,” Cavill says, “Geralt has that thing of trying so damn hard and being misconstrued or not appreciated—of people having a negative opinion of you, despite you actually trying to do the right thing.” The Geralt fans know and love from the games is notoriously gruff and hardened by the world around him, but it seems that Cavill is attempting to bring a new layer of vulnerability to the hero. Making such a prickly character relatable to a wider audience of viewers seems to be a challenge the actor is up for.
Part of what made The Witcher such a successful video game series was the way it handled Geralt’s character and history, slowly unfurling what it meant to be a member of his trade while also giving a deep personality to a character that is supposed to be close to emotionless. Cavill’s excitement is shared by fans who are eager to see the actor’s interpretation of Geralt’s journey and his growth. The fact that he’s prepared to explore the big questions about Geralt and the world he inhabits at large should make for compelling television, however.
Cavill is obviously no stranger to helming a franchise, but it will be interesting to see how his take on Geralt will fare in a sea of content vying to fill Game of Thrones-shaped hole in fans’ hearts. Regardless of how they feel, fans can’t deny Cavill’s admiration for the role and the world of The Witcher. Now all that’s left is to tune in on December 20, and keep a special eye out for the bathtub scene.
Next: The Witcher: 10 Henry Cavill Movies to Watch Before it Premieres
The Witcher premieres December 20 on Netflix.
Source: Men’s Health
